Power unit



v Agg. 20, 1946. v R. F. THORNTON l 2,406,259

POWER UNIT Filed oct. 6,l 1.944 l 5 sheets-sheet 1 Aug. zo, 1946.I R. F. THoRmoN POWER UNIT Filed oct. 6, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet'1 2 v e.. Lk

`INVENTOR.

w. ,W ,n Taf f, @YJ FB `Patented Aug. 20, 1946 tzu-NITED .STATES Vi A1fE1-uff-o'Fl-ICI'I` iy vPOWER Ray F. Thornton, Dearborn, Mich. Application October 6, 1944, `Serial No. 557,511

`The;present invention relates -to a power unit and 'more particularly to a stationary powerunit in which a plurality of separate internal combustion engines are interconnected for unitary operation to supply power to a single power takeoff shaft. Y

Internal combustion engines, such for example as those used in automotive vehicles, have been highly developed and because of the mass production methods utilized in their manufacture are available at arelatively low cost per horsepower output. Inraddition, standard replacement partsare readily available and a llarge number "of Ytrained automotive mechanics are available to perform the necessary service operations thereon. f y

Stationary power units to supply sufficient power in various installations may require more shaft horsepower at times thancan be developed by a single conventional automotive type of internal combustion engine. Howeverfa plurality of such enginesmay, according to the present invention; be interconnected for unitary operation to supply the required shaft horse power. to a single power take-oli shaft. By utilizing a plurality of such engines, the power output may be readily varied to compensate for the load requirement,either byvarying the number of sep.- arate internal combustion engines in operation, as by cutting in or cutting out certain of the engines, or by operating the connected engines at lower speeds. `In either instance the power unit of the present invention provides a flexibility in operation which frequently is lacking in stationary power units in which a single heavy duty relatively large horse power internal combustion engine is utilized.

By way of example, but not of limitation, a stationary power unil; of the present invention may be utilized to supply power to portable machinery of various types, such for example as portable saw mills, earth handling and moving equipment, stone and rock Crushers and the like or similar equipment. It may also be used t0 drive. pumping equipment and electricity generating equipment. In the present invention may be utilized wherever a heavy duty stationary internal combustion engine is suitable for use as the power unit.

The principal objects of the present invention are:

' 1. To providea power unit particularly adapted for use as a stationary power unit and in which general, a power unit of 4,v claims. (ci. rfi- 16) a plurality of separateinternal combustion len- 2V gin'es are interconnected for unitary operationto supply power to a single power take-oli shaft.

'2. To provide a stationary power plant of compact design in which the power is generated by a plurality of separate internal combustion engines which are interconnected for unitary operation, the engines being capableV of separate operation when desired.

3. To provide a power unit in which power is generated by a plurality of separate interconnected internal combustionengines mounted in a unitary frame of unique and rigid construction.

4. To provide a power unit in which power generated by a plurality of separate interconnected internal combustion engines is delivered to asingle power take-off `shaft which is adjustably mounted for Vbodily movement relative to the frame of the power unit and relative to lthe drive shafts of the said internal combustion engines.

Other objects of the present invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specication wherein like reference characters designate corresponding partsin the severalviews.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the power unit 'of the present invention with the side cover plates removed to reveal the construction thereof.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of la power unit-embodying the present invention with the side cover plates in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectiontaken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 21 inthe direction of the arrows.

Beforeexplaining in detailthepresent invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and ofrbeing practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

A power unit of the present invention comprises. a `plurality of separate internal combustion engines l 0, .which are preferably of the automotive type and of any desired conventional construction. In the present drawings two such engines are shown by Way of example, but itis to be understood thatany desired numberymore than two, may be utilized within the scopeof the present invention. The conventional type `.en-

. gines are each provided clutch which is connected to a unitary clutch l control shaft II, which is controlled by a clutch I2. The engines I each drive a through a contop of the unit andis closed by a removable i spout cap 23. f Y

Conventional types of indicating instrumenta A greater strength and rigidity thereto.

with a conventional type membersIi-l 'and 2'0'of lthe power unit frame.

lilachengineVv I0 is provided with fuel from a separate fuel tank V2 I' fuel feeding system.

with a filling spout 22 which extends above the through its conventional Each tank 2I is provided-1 such for example as ammeters, tachometers and i" the like (not shown) are operatively connected;

with each engine I0 and are mounted on an instrumentpanel 24 provi d ed in the dash 25, one

instrumentpanel 24 being 4vprovided for Aeach of` Eachengine IIJ is provided with a separate cooling system which comprises a conventional Vtype of .luidjradiator 26 havinga iiller spout 2'I ex-` tending above the top plane of the unit and closed by Va removable ller' spout top 28. `Air is drawn inwardly through theradiator core andy blown over each engine Ibya conventional type of automotive engine cooling fan 29. I .l The exhaust manifold of Veach, engine Il)V is connectedwith its own exhaust pipe 30 and exhaustgas vmufller 3 I.-V While the muffler 3| may be of anydesir'ed construction, If prefer to use the muilier construction shown; in my co-pending application Serial No. 5253525." i,

YThe engines I0 aresynchronized for operation as a unit, preferablyY by balancing the intake manifold pressures, one suitable balancing mechanism being shown by way, of exampleinzmy co'- pending application Serial No..52 4,4.02.

The governor controlledfintake valve and the manuallyxcontrolled carbureter intakevalve are preferably connected by any suitableV type Vofade' Yjustable connecting Aand. control device. Y However, it is to be understood that anyother types of engine synchronizing and control mechanisms may be employed-if desireclgf' v' J 'Y r The entire power unit is mountedV ina frame which comprises a pairof base framefmembers '32'rigidly connected in spacedsubstantially'parallel relation by a plurality of cross-frame mem; bers 33, and end frame members v34 and 35. The base frame members 32, cross-frame members 33 and end frame members 34 and 35 areY al1Y preferably channel shape in cross-section to impart The base members 32 `are preferably each'pro-V vided witha plurality Vof eyes36 to permitY con-V n'e'etion of` conventional types of hooks employedv Vwithhois'ting or moving equipment. The ends V3'I are shaped to permit use of the basel members,V 32 as skids for moving the position as for example ona'fpluralityof spaced base members 38, which, if desired ,may be structural elements of 'the "machine with which the power unit of the present invention is to be used.

power unit into operating 65 n A plurality of vertically extending corner frame secured Yto Ythe tops of the Vbase 32 Y'and' to the topsl'of the end frame members 34 and35fa'n'd supporta plurality'of side sills 40 ofY the'rnain framefflie side sills 40 of vthe main frame arersecured in spaced substantially parallel relation bythe cross-frame members 39 are frame members .side mounting brackets of i resiliently suspended -in members I9 and 20 and by a front cross-frame 4I. A longitudinally extending frame 42 con- Vnects the front cross-frame 4I and the crossto the'side sills`40 by a V'plurality of any suitableY type of vibrationabsorbing motor'mountings 43. By thisY construction, the engines I0 are each a rigid cradling frame. Secured to the tops of main frame are a frame 45 from which the fuel tanks 2| are suspended.VA 1 AA longitudinally extending iiangeY 46 is provided on each side of the for receiving the top longitudinal edge portion of aremovable side cover-4l, the bottom Aedges of which are held in a plurality oflongitudinally spaced cover brackets 4Bsecuredto the side sills 40 of the main frame. -A plurality of spring clips 43 are secured to the cover 4l to engage the longitudinal edge of theflange 46; 1 The single power take-.off shaft 50 is-provided with a connector Vflange 5l and is journaled in bearings 52 and 53 slidably mounted in vertically extendingrigid bearing slides ,'54" and 55. The bearing slide 54 is connected tothe cross-frame 20 of the maink frame v`and to the rendV cross meme ber 3.5 ofv thez'base frame. a The bearing slidev55 is aligned with the/bearing slide 54'and extends drivepulley 56 is driven'rfrom the'enginedriven drive pulleys Hi by a pluralityk of ilexibleil 'drive' belts'l.

Vertical adjustment f 'the drivefpulleylrlr'eof the power: take-oir shaft V5f) to take up slackfin the drive belts 5l or to permit changes inthe drive ratios bythe substitution of a 'differentsize drive pulley '56, isV provided by adjustedrvertical movements of the bearings 52 and 53 in' the bearL ing slides 54 and v55. The vvertical adjustment -of the bearings 52 and 53 isi effected through'bearing slideadjusting screws d58 and'59.A Theadjustment of the `bearings 52 and 53 in the bearing slides 54 Vand 55 is Ymaintained bylock nuts 65 and'l onthe bottom adjusting screws 59. Y f

The various frame elements heretofore described are interconnected to form afsingle uni` tary frame construction-(which isrigidfand'has 'a high strength-weight ratio. f theV frame may oe securedin'anysuitable manner preferably byy welding,` but any other suitable means,V such for yexample'as bolts, like, may be employed for this purpose. Y

The drive transfer mechariis herein disclosed may be replaced if Vdesiredby adriVe gearmechanism in whichfevent thetransiei` drive mech-l anism herein disclosedwouldgbe Yreplaced by'Y a gear case and gears.therein.-- t Q v j From the foregoing it will be seen that-I have provided a novel power unit construction in which a plurality supply Y,power to ajsingle 'powertakegoishaft the side sills 40 and theY Y Y plurality of upright top frame I vmembers 44to which is secured the top and top top and top frame 45 The various partsA 0f rivets' or theV of separate internal. combustion en- Ygines Yare interconnected(forunitary operation to separate operation when desired, and are mounted in a unitary frame of unique and rigid construction. Power units embodying the presentV invention have been used successfully in various installations where a single heavy duty relatively large horse power internal combustion engine was previously employed as the power source. The greater flexibility and the greater economy in the repair or replacement of worn parts and the servicing of the u nits by readily available trained automotive mechanics and has been found to be particularly advantageous.

I claim:

1. A power unit including a plurality of separate internal combustion engines interconnected for unitary operation to supply power to a single power take-off shaft and having a rigid frame including a base frame and a vertically spaced motor supporting frameV secured to said base frame, and including spaced substantially parallel side frames interconnectedby a plurality of cross-frame members, a drive shaft connected with each engine and journaled in a pair of spaced vertically adjustable bearings, slidably mounted in a pair of spaced slide members secured between vertically spaced cross-frame members of said base frame and said motor supporting frame, means associated with said slide members for adjustably moving said bearings in said slide members, a power take-off shaft and means connecting said drive shafts in driving re- Y lation to said power take-off shaft.

2. A power unit including a plurality of separate internal combustion engines interconnected for unitary operation to supply power to a single power take-off shaft and having a rigid frame including a base frame having a pair of spaced substantially parallel longitudinally extending side skid members and a vertically spaced'motor supporting frame secured to said base frame, and including spaced substantially parallel side frames interconnected by a plurality of cross-frame members, a drive shaft connected with each engine and journaled in bearings secured to a pair of said cross-frame members, a power take-off shaft, means connecting said power take-off shaft in driving relation to said power take-off shaft, a pair of vertically adjustable bearings, one adjacent each end of said power take-off shaft for rotatably journaling said power take-off shaft, n and means for permitting vertical adjustment of said bearings and comprising spaced slide members each extending between aligned vertically spaced cross-frame members, one on said base frame and one on said motor supporting frame, and adjustable means associated with said slide members for moving thereto.

3. A power unit as claimed in claim 2 and further characterized in that said base frame includes a pair of spaced substantially parallel'longitudinally extending side skid members each having upwardly curved bottom end surfaces and an eye adjacent *each end thereof, and a drive shaft is connected with each engine and journaled in bearings secured to a pair of said cross-frame members to drive a power take-off shaft, and means are provided for vertically adjusting said power take-off shaft relative to said drive shaft and include a pair of vertically adjustable slidable bearings and slides mounted between vertically spaced cross-frame members of said base frame and said motor supporting frame, and means for adjustably sliding said bearings in said slide members.

4. A power unit including a plurality of separate internal combustion engines interconnected for unitary operation to supplypower to a single power take-olf shaft and having a rigid frame, including a base frame, and a vertically spaced motor supporting frame secured to said base frame, including spaced substantially parallel side frames interconnected by a plurality of crossframe members, and a centrally disposed longitudinally extending member positioned between said side frames and extending between a pair of said cross-frame members adjacent one end Yof said motor supporting side frames a plurality of rigid engine frame cradles, each of said engines being connected with a drive shaft journaled in bearings secured to a pair of said cross-frame members to drive saidY power take-off shaft, said power take-off shaft being journaled in a pair of vertically adjustable bearings, one adjacent each end of said power take-off shaft, and moveable in a pair of spaced slide members, said slides being secured between vertically spaced cross-frame members of said base frame and said motor supporting frame, and means for adjustably moving said bearings in said slide members.

RAY F. THORNTON.

said bearings relative frame to provide with said 

